Log & Water

In the Camp Winnarainbow system, water bottles are represented by two separate but equally important groups: the children who search for lost water bottles, and the counselors who comfort thirsty children. These are their stories.

TIPI CIRCLE circa 4:45pm—A rogue piece of cloud has given downtown Camp a fleeting moment of peace from the afternoon heat. I’m picking up an extra shift on the “Ring Master” beat this evening to get the down-low on the ongoing lost water bottle crisis. Unfortunately this nice change in weather isn’t going to do much for those unlucky souls who can’t find their water bottles. Here comes one now.

“I lost my water bottle,” says Zoe, 8.

“Would you like a consultation?” says Water Bottle Detective Silver Morningstar. She agrees. He metes out his intake questions like he’s done a thousand times before: Name? Age? Tipi? Color of water bottle? Number of ounces? Zoe does her best to answer as accurately as she can remember.

“Last known location?”
“Cloudswing.”
“Any identifiable characteristics?”
“It says ‘Zoe’ on it.”

Here at the Water Bottle Detective Collective intake desk, it’s always the same story: “I just set it down for a second and then it was gone.” People assume they can just leave their water bottle lying around and no one will move it. Some of them even think that their water bottle will just “turn up eventually.” Well I’ve got news for these people: Your water bottle is gone! Lost! Vanished! And no amount of praying to Saint Anthony is going to bring it back. Your best shot is cold, hard detective work. That’s why the Collective was started.

“I’m sorry, Zoe,” consoles Silver. “You know, three years ago I lost my own water bottle. I haven’t found mine yet, but I’ll do everything I can to help you find yours.”

Grateful yet somewhat skeptical, Zoe leaves to pick out a costume for tonight’s Costume Dance Party. A new camper approaches.

“Is this someone’s water bottle?” says Iversen, 12, holding what appears to be Zoe’s water bottle.

“Zoe!” exclaims Silver, snatching the metallic vessel and charging off toward the Costume Barn.

“I was putting my stilts away when I saw it,” explains Iversen. “Silver said I could be part of the committee.”

“It’s not a committee; it’s the Water Bottle Detective Collective,” corrects Silver. He has returned still holding the water bottle, apparently unable to find Zoe. “‘Collective’ means that we collect water bottles, and it also means that we are in a commune.”

“If anybody has a water bottle with a dent on it, I have some Band-Aids in my backpack,” offers Teen Staff Lysdy. “They’re planet themed.”

“There’s many specialties in the Collective, such as Lydsy, the Water Bottle Doctor,” continues Silver. “We have Reunion Specialists, who follow up on open cases. We also have Water Bottle Counselors who comfort people who have lost their water bottles, as well as water bottles who have lost their people,” he says, motioning to a cluster of water bottles on a nearby bench. “Jack over here is our Water Bottle Security Guard!”

“I haven’t guarded a single water bottle yet,” admits Teen Staff Jack.

“Well we feel better just knowing you’re available,” says Silver. “By the way, can you watch these water bottles for a minute?”

“Yes, but I need to get my own water bottle first,” deflects Jack, walking away.

The clouds have dissipated, dappling the woodchips with sunlight. Costumed children mill about the Tipi Circle like exotic bugs in a terrarium. Long oak boughs wriggle upward like twisted fingers holding fistfuls of greenery.

“I was born to search for water bottles; it’s my true calling,” says Winter, 10. “I think some water bottles are starting to run away from humans and hide in the woods. They’re tired of being used and they’re plotting to take over the world! It’s a whole Planet of the Apes situation.”

“You will probably lose your own water bottle at least once in your life,” warns Atlee, 11. “I lost mine at the creek. It has my name on it but it’s hard to read because it’s black and I used a black Sharpie.”

“One time I lost my water bottle at school,” recounts Frida, 8. “When I found it, it looked gross so I threw it out and got a new one that I loved more.”

“Tomorrow morning I’m going to be hypnotized to see if I can recover hidden memories of my water bottle,” says Silver. “I need to remember where it was last seen.”

“I’m the official hypnotist of the Collective,” says Nylea, 11. “I’m going to swing an analog watch back and forth like they do in the movies. Then I’ll say ‘REMEMBER YOUR WATER BOTTLE’ five times and snap my fingers. It worked on my sister once.”

Suddenly, Zoe has returned.

“Water-bottle-lament no more,” exclaims Silver handing the water bottle to Zoe. “This is water bottle reunion number 14! Remember, it’s not about the water; it’s about the bottles.”

Sure, people who lose their water bottles could use a paper cup at one of the four conveniently located water station  coolers—they could even drink from one of the ten water fountains if they were really desperate—but the truth is that nothing compares to a long, cool swig from your own personal water bottle; the one you bought at Target a few weeks ago, the one you slapped a festive sticker on, the vacuum-sealed aluminum affair with a penchant for rolling around in the trunk of the family station wagon.
Maybe you assumed your water bottle would always be by your side. Maybe you assumed it would stay right where you left it next to the Juggling Cart. Well, as we like to say in the Collective, assumptions are a fast-track to becoming slightly thirsty and irritated. Let these accounts you read here be a reminder to hold your water bottle close and, as always…

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

I Feel the Earth Move

SPORTS FIELD circa 8:15am—Tagging along with Administrative Manager Mayahuel Montoya on a serene morning walk, we follow a dirt road through the wooded bank of Ten Mile Creek. Soon the foliage opens and we continue along the south side of Camp’s Sports Field. Already too warm for a light flannel, the sun reflects off the golden grass, nearly four feet high now.  There is a walkable labyrinth situated here, owing to the fact that this is the first area of Camp to receive direct sunlight each morning.

The loose dirt on the road has captured the footprints of a wide array of creatures: dogs, cats, birds, deer as well as several different brands of sneakers. Every ten yards or so a small hole indicates the presence of a sprawling ant colony. Each morning they emerge from a different hole, sometimes a hundred feet apart from one day to the next. Today they are working from one of the eastern-most holes, foraging fluffy white bits of plant debris.

Suddenly both our phones surge with an ominous warning chime:

Emergency Alert
Earthquake Detected! Drop, Cover, Hold On. Protect Yourself. -USGS ShakeAlert

We move away from the trees toward the center of the field as a shudder passes over the landscape. We continue into Camp.

CAMP KITCHEN circa 8:20am—A throng of children has been gathered in the clearing near the kitchen where counselors Silver, Moment, and Lucas are leading an acapella rendition of “Here Comes the Sun.” Nearby a small contingent of management discusses next steps. Cool morning air still lingers here in the shadow of the plateau.

After a few minutes, the children are admitted back into the eating area to enjoy cocoa and boardgames. Waterfront Director Kitty Green has taken to singing Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move”. Everything seems to have returned to normal, except for the hum of our back-up generators. I join the cocoa scene to document witness accounts of the quake, as well as to gather reviews of last night’s program, Teacher Talent Night.

“I was in a dream state when I thought someone was kicking my mat,” says Kanana, 10. “Our teen staff completely slept through it. I liked Teacher Talent Night because it was more exciting than a boring math lecture. 7.5 points out of 10.”

“When it happened I sat up and made eye contact with my tipi-mate and we were both so confused,” says Tessa, 14. “Once it stopped I went back to sleep. Teacher Talent Night was a great opportunity to see teachers in their element. Like you can know how to teach something, but seeing them actually do it is something else entirely.”

“It was a beautiful regular morning; everyone was spread out and peaceful,” says Camper Advocate Silver Morningstar. “I was at the art grove, discussing mystical things like cocoa with Memo and Yeshi. It was mind altering, the whole ground swayed, gave me a sense of vertigo. I stopped what I was doing and walked straight over to the kitchen and said, ‘Bum-dada-bum-bum’ and gathered the kids in a circle. We made sure everybody was okay and then decided to stay in the circle for a little bit and sing some songs”

“I low-key thought Miles was shaking the table,” says Sandro, 13. “We were playing blackjack. We were gambling with woodchips because we’re not allowed to have money at Camp. I don’t think we’re going to have another earthquake this session—I’d bet 26 woodchips on it.”

“James was cooking on the trapeze,” says Sandro of Teacher Talent Night. “It was cool to see my counselor up there. I’ve got mad respect for that.”

“I was getting coffee at Pour Girls,” says Gravy Boat Jasper Jackson-Gleich, referring to the drive-through coffee stand in downtown Laytonville. “It’s good it didn’t hit earlier or I wouldn’t have gotten my latte.”

“I was home when my phone went off, and then I saw my sliding glass door jiggle,” says Korina, 11. “The Peace Choir was my favorite act last night. I like Camp Winnarainbow even though there’s earthquakes.”

“I was brushing my teeth when it happened,” says Lifeguard Audrey Duane. “I think the rocking motion of the earth travelled through my toothbrush and got some plaque that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”

“It was basically an alarm clock for me,” confesses Poetry Instructor Rose Goyette. “I honestly might still be asleep if not for the earthquake.”

“It was fun to see aerials and acrobatics and it made me want to try them,” says Paloma, 9. “Improv was funny how they would say ‘STOP!’ and make up a whole new thing.”

“I was in the dish house when it hit, and I sprung into action right away,” says Unicycle Instructor Lucas Johnson. “My phone made a scary noise even though it was in airplane mode. I wouldn’t have felt the earthquake if I was in an airplane, so I’m not sure how that works. Anyways, I helped everybody remember the lyrics to ‘Here Comes the Sun.’”

“Basically we needed to check the structures, the electrical, and the propane,” says Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “We got the generators up and running to power the Office, the Kitchen and the Nurses’ Dome. When I went to town earlier to get more gas it looked like Disclosure Day.”

“I was saving a chair for Silver in the kitchen when it started shaking and going like this,” says Luna, 10, waving her arms back and forth. “It felt like I was seeing double. I would say the teacher show was a 9.5 out of 10. If I could give them one piece of advice, I’d tell the juggling teachers that they should take juggling more seriously.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

As of press time 10:00pm on 6/24 the power grid is on and no injuries or property damage have been reported.

BACK TO ARCHIVE

What I Wanna Be

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

RAINBOW THEATER circa 11:07am—The sun waxes in the mid morning sky, glinting around the edges of the oak canopy that shields the Rainbow Theater’s seating area. Performance Coordinator Momo Calfe-Smith sits in the shadow of the large metal rainbow that frames the stage, inking second period class options on a large whiteboard while Duper (see: Supervisor) Lexi Takaki sweeps stage dust with a green-bristled pushbroom. The air smells like dust.

Here in the Theater sound of tipi groups discussing amongst each other can be heard in all directions. During a time that will typically be first period classes, tipi groups have been afforded this hour to form social agreements such as “right to pass” and “no put-downs”. Counselors have spread out, taking their respective tipi groups to the various peripheral shady areas of Downtown Camp, leaving the Rainbow Theater quite empty.

Dance Instructor Yeshi Gusfield emerges and agrees to give me a rundown of last night’s program, Tipi Skit Night.

“It’s the quintessential name game, wrapped up in an inside joke, and topped off with a pun on the tipi’s name,” she explains. “For example—and I hadn’t heard this one before—one tipi made a skit around ‘in da flow’, and then at the end they were Indigo Tipi. Very clever!”

The goal of Tipi Skit Night is to get every camper to introduce themselves on stage. For many kids, it’s their first experience of public speaking, let alone stagecraft. Counselors are tasked with creating these skits with very limited prep time.

“In order to make a good skit you ask the most hyper kid what their weirdest idea is,” continues Yeshi. “It’s the night you hear everyone’s voice, no matter how small. It can make impressions that last a lifetime.”

The conch is blown, beckoning campers back to the Rainbow Theater. Dust fills the air as people shuffle in. “Pick up your feet! Pick up your feet! Dust is the worst thing you could ever eat!” goes the familiar chant. As the theater fills, Momo takes center stage.

“I know I can…” shouts Momo, inviting the crowd to repeat along with the Nas classic.
“I know I can…”
“Be what I wanna be…”
“Be what I wanna be…”
“If I work hard at it…”
“If I work hard at it…”
“I’ll be where I wanna be!”
“I’ll be where I wanna be!”

“Who’s ready for some classes?” exclaims Momo to a chorus of ‘woo’s. The circus element of Camp Winnarainbow has finally commenced. The teachers begin their announcements…

STREETER CREEK circa 2:59pm—Our large group of streamwalkers has paused at a wide and shady bend to frolic in the waist-deep water. Us counselors having recently prohibited splashing, the campers have resorted to scraping clay from the streambed and smearing their faces like warpaint. The afternoon breeze rustles the foliage.

“I took improv and it was really fun,” says Rory, 10, of his first day of classes. “You have to do lots of quick thinking, and I feel like I can think of random stuff even quicker now.”

“I took poetry; it was nice to express my emotions,” says Sophia, 11. “You can literally write about anything and you don’t have to show people if you don’t want to.”

“The students were very engaged and energetic,” reports Improv Instructor Mars Francis. “We made up a story about Lebron James slaying dragons with a magical wand.”

“I’ve been taking improv for a while,” claims Dom, 9. “The way to where I can think in my mind, it’s fun and funny at the same time. Mars is fun as a teacher, like 82 out of 100. And 82% fun is really good. Most grown-ups are like 35-40% fun.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

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The World Is Comin’ to a Start

Welcome to the Camp Winnarainbow Blog! This feed is dedicated to providing daily updates on various Camp happenings with a special focus on camper quotations. DISCLAIMER: For matters of an urgent or serious nature, please contact the Camp office directly. This blog desk is not equipped to handle official business. Besides that, feel free to request article topics or special reports. Happy reading! —J. Payseno, Editor

MERCH TABLE circa 3:17pm—Families are beginning to trickle over Streeter Creek into the makeshift welcome area where sandwich boards point people into various registration lines. The Puppet Grove has become a paperwork check-in station while the Chess Grove doubles as a CWR merchandise storefront. A gentle breeze causes display T-shirts to sway on hangers dangled from a large shade structure. A grey sedan slinks through the crowd, apparently carrying a certain nonagenarian clown who has come to play his part in the collective welcome effort.

Here at the merch table, I am shirking the commerce tasks at hand in favor of collecting a few quotations for the first blog post of the 2026 season.

“Friends & Family Camp made me realize that children are better behaved than adults,” points out Art Instructor Maya Kittredge-Martinez, referring to Camps new all-ages pre-season program. “For our day off we saw Disclosure Day, which was…good? It was kind of hilarious at the end because the CGI was so terrible.”

On the adjacent picnic table Operations Manager Angel Herrera contemplatively strums a Mexican-made black and white Stratocaster. Kitchen Manager Mary Jane Stamper stops on her way to poke her head through a pair of sweatpants on display. “Here’s Johnny!” she menaces before hurrying back to burger night prep.

“Disclosure Day was more funny than anything,” assesses Herrera. “I’d give it one thumb-up. It can’t compare with Camp, that’s for sure. You can’t compare if you don’t compete.”

A dad and his three kids approach to inquire about sizes. Maya steps over to the backstock bins and parses through piles of branded garments. Angel has switched to tapping on a tiny djembe.

“I came here as a camper in the 90’s,” says Trevor from San Francisco. “I’m glad my kids are campers now. It’s the community, it’s the eucalyptus, it’s the magic—it’s all beautiful things to hold and savor.”

“We expect this session to be the best one yet, as always!” exclaims Executive Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich while rolling by in the Camp golf cart.

“I saw The Death of Robin Hood on my day off,” reports Gravy Boat Jasper Jackson-Gleich. The brother of Ginger, Jasper has been tasked with ferrying Wavy and Jahanara around campus this summer, hence the title. “I liked the casting but the cinematography was grotesque and the script was overwrought. Zero thumbs up.”

Sensing a movie theme emerging, I resolve to solicit reviews of more titles.

From the bridge a counselor announces to everyone in particular that the Berkeley shuttle bus has arrived. A few free hands muster themselves over the bridge to help unload baggage in the parking lot. A line forms at the merch table as more and more families arrive.

“Friends & Family Camp was so fun!” says Marie from Oakland. “I wish we could stay for longer, but our kid is excited for Session A. Just so you know, he brought a harmonica, so be warned.”

“I just saw The Mandalorian & Grogu,” says Iggy, 11, Maroon Tipi. “The plot was really good—even better than the Minecraft movie!”

“Traffic was crazy,” reports Aerials Instructor Shakon. “The vibes on the bus were surprisingly good. With this new ‘no phones’ rule kids were actually talking to each other. I guess the screen withdrawal hasn’t kicked in yet. Or maybe I’m just that good at being the bus counselor.”

“Toy Story 5 was better than Toy Story 4,” claims Teen Staff Orion. “It actually expanded on a character that wasn’t Woody or Buzz—Jessie. We get to learn more about her backstory and her fear of abandonment. In the end she learns that nothing is permanent, but memories last forever. Two thumbs up.”

“I randomly saw The Babysitters Club recently,” confesses Marina from San Anselmo. “Four out of four stars. In the movie they actually run a summer camp. It’s more chaotic than Camp Winnarainbow—if you can imagine such a thing. I wish we had come to Friends & Family. We’re already planning for next year.”

“There’s a magic once you arrive,” adds Nina from Fairfax. “It pulls you in.”

“My nervous system totally relaxes when I get here,” says Sara, also from Fairfax. “The environment, the people, it feels like a really beautiful and positive place. It’s vibrant and peaceful at the same time.”

“I saw Backrooms,” says Former Dance Instructor Karma Engel. “My favorite part wasn’t even about the movie. Marcos arrived like twenty minutes late and when he sat down he leaned so far back that it broke the chair like this,” she says while physically demonstrating.

“That theater is so small you can hear the soda machine,” adds Herrera.

“I thought Disclosure Day rocked,” says Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner. “I feel lucky to live in an era where we can still get a classic Spielbergian sci-fi adventure. It was similar to Arrival, but with more action. Under the flashy action sequences it was ultimately a human story about the power of empathy, which dovetails nicely with Camp. There’s this trope where you think the world is coming to an end, but it’s really coming to a start. And I think that is very much in the spirit of Camp.”

Stay hydrated,

—J. Payseno, Editor

BACK TO ARCHIVE

Bittersweet Feeling

Saturday, August 2^nd, 2025

TIPI CIRCLE circa 5:30pm—The sun hovers just behind the top of the canopy, treating our closing staff meeting to a pleasant arrangement of shade. The sounds of reveling children has given away to the spooky post-session quietness, allowing the woosh of cars traveling the 101 to carry over Ten Mile Creek into our sequestered facility. Among the 80-odd counselors gathered at the Tipi Circle benches, there is a distinct feeling of relief, having safely returned all the campers to their grown-ups. There is also a certain emotional whiplash that comes with releasing such precious cargo.

“Session D and Summer 2025 are in the bag, folks,” says Director Ginger Jackson-Gleich to a strong burst of applause. “I want to start this circle with some appreciations, starting with people who stepped into new roles this year.”

She methodically reads through a prepared list of honorees, pausing for applause that the staff give each other generously. Coordinators, nurses, department heads, bloggers—the list goes on.

“I’d like to also give a special shout-out to the all-summer management team,” she concludes. “The metaphor is sleeping with your walkie-talkie on twenty-four seven. You all have such complimentary strengths; there isn’t any group I would rather have to help run this ship. Y’all rock.”

Ginger turns the show over to Super Duper [see: head supervisor] Jack Crawford who begins explaining the various logistics of the rest of the day. As she speaks, I can’t help but marvel at the circle of faces gathered here, people who have been here twenty years or more, people who just joined our team this summer, and everyone in between. This project has always been about people coming together to create a more peaceful and joyous way of life. Looking around the circle, I see a dedicated crew of people who made that true once again for our 51^st summer, and I feel an immense sense of pride to be counted in their number.

Earlier today I spent some time loitering around the merch table to hear some parents’ opinions about today’s ‘Little Big Show’, and a few closing remarks from staff.

“It feels good to be back at Camp,” said Paula from Willits, who worked several summers around the turn of the century. “That’s actually how I met Logan.”

“Yep I was here in the nineties, doing unicycling tricks and riding on the plateau,” said Logan from Willits. “The songs are totally different from when I was here. There’s like a full band now. Very rockin’!”

“Just the clown-tabulousness of it all,” said Rita from the East Bay. “I give it ten-hundred stars out of ten!”

“I actually read the blog every day,” said Francie from American Canyon. “A little bit of humor and a lot of whimsy—that should be your new tag-line. Seeing my two boys do a juggling act together, that made my heart go, ‘Weeeeeeee!’”

“That song by the young songwriter was so beautiful,” said Jamedra from Oakland. “It was somber yet joyful, a real bittersweet feeling. It made me happy to see a young person bravely expressing themselves.”

“Check-out has been flowing smoothly,” said Operations Manager Angel Herrera. “We got a little doodle competition going on, and I think we all won. It’s interesting putting parent faces to these kids; It’s not always what you expect. I hope everyone has a safe journey home!”

“It was a heck of a summer,” said Office Assistant Ellena Soloner. “The kids came, magic happened, and we’re already looking forward to next year! I would say I read one thousand emails this summer, easy.”

“Dusty, crusty, musty, and toward the fun!” said Teen Staff Jojo. “My advice for Camp is baby wipes, project your voice, and have no fear.”

“The Paul Simon tune really hit it out of the park,” said Camp Founder Jahanara Romney.

“It was rocking our socks,” added her husband and Camp Founder Wavy Gravy.

“See you next summer, knuckleheads!” said Director Ginger Jackson Gleich. “I stole that one from Wavy. He won’t mind, right?”

Thank you everyone for reading along this session! Have a safe journey home and, as always,

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

A Day for True Lake Lovers

Friday, August 1^st, 2025

PARKING LOT circa 2:00pm—I amble down the gravel ramp from Camp’s access bridge into the arid expanse of the parking lot, slowing my pace as the increase in temperature dawns on me. Vultures circle ominously above in the cloudless sky. The joyful sounds of free time can faintly be heard from the greenery that encompasses downtown Camp, but it all seems like a distant memory as I trudge along this dusty patch of desert. Finally, I spy the object of my pursuit: a 2000-something Kia Sedona. I start her up and roll down into the office area where a smattering of lifeguards nonchalantly await my arrival.

Lake Shuttle duty is a unique job in the Winnarainbow economy. It allows one to be in proximity to a CD player and air conditioning for a whole afternoon. For the first shuttle-load, I’m only transporting lake staff. The lifeguards load in and with a clunky three-point turn we cruise onto the main easement of the Black Oak Ranch.

LAKE VERONICA circa 2:15pm—“I made a drink out of the watermelon mint salad that we had at lunch,” says Waterfront Director Annika Crowley, proudly displaying her concoction. “I added Yerba Mate, La Croix, and Tajín.”

Lifeguards lazily bob around on various floaties as they await the arrival of the first camper shuttle. Sunlight sparkles wherever the water has been disturbed. A cool breeze nudges the cattails.

“Today is the last day of the lake for the whole summer,” says Annika, somberly. “Today is a day for true lake lovers. Veronica is going to miss having campers swimming around in her. It’s been a good run. The cooler days we had this summer were good, because its less traffic and more chill. But the hot days are excellent too because the water is so refreshing. I’m going to miss it. All of it.”

DOWNTOWN CAMP circa 2:30pm—“Lake Shuttle!” exclaims Flowersticks Instructor Bodhi Cedar, holding a clipboard. He tries to make sense of a dynamic swarm of campers who impatiently wait in a constant state of movement. After repeating a list of names two or three or four times, the Kia is loaded up. I shift into drive and head back toward the easement, a cacophony of childish banter filling the enclosed space. This routine will continue for the remainder of lake hours.

LAKE VERONICA AGAIN circa 3:30pm— A pair of volunteer campers help me carry a large bowl of plums and a bag graham crackers. We scramble from the turnout down a small slope to the lakefront. “Lake close for snack time!” announces Annika. The swimmers slowly emerge from the murky water, arms held out as they drip and dry in the sun. A line forms at the snack table. Now that there is a brief pause in shuttle service, it’s time to fish for a few quotations.

“I love being Beach Mop because I get to swim,” says Stilts Instructor Maya Blackshaw Nichols, meting out servings of plums and graham crackers. “Beach Mop is a job about organizational attendance. We make a note of every camper who comes to the lake, and we double-check their swim rating to make sure they are they are swimming in the right areas. There’s been some sun-bathing today, and a little bit of rehearsal stress. I’m really glad I’m here today. I hope we can give the lake the send-off it deserves.”

“Now that the summer is over, the lifeguards will drink up all the lake water and eat all the cattails,” claims Lifeguard River Szeto Zenk.

“I jumped off the platform,” says Andie, 10, Gold Tipi. “If you do a pencil dive, you can sometimes feel the bottom. It’s all gravelly and muddy. The lifeguards are nice, at least most of them. There’s a legend that there’s a kraken that lives at the bottom of the lake in a school bus. Someone forgot to put it in park, and it rolled in.”

“The water was really cold, but that’s nice in comparison to all the hot,” says Teen Staff Django. “I just floated around on a pool noodle today. I think when the campers leave, the lake gets used to breed crocodiles to raise money for the scholarship fund.”

“The lake is very chill and pretty neat,” says Kaliope “The Great”, 10, Ultraviolet Tipi. “Did you put ‘The Great’ in there? Good. The lifeguards are super cool. They’ll talk to you and crack jokes. My advice is to change into your swimsuit at Camp before coming to the lake. I had to change in the porta-potty today and it was horrible. My favorite thing is jumping off the platform. The lifeguard calls out an animal and you have to make the noise of it before you hit the water. I got stumped by ‘mosquito’ and ‘lemur’.”

“I tried to pass my rafter test, but I failed,” laments Matilda, 10, Gold Tipi. “You start in the shallow end and then swim to the raft and back. You’re not allowed to do backstroke the whole time, which is kind of rude because that’s my best stroke. A lifeguard goes with you in case you get tired. This year I made it twice as far as last year, so I think I will definitely pass next year. After my test I just went between hanging out in the shoreline and reading in the sun. I say, don’t exert yourself too much. There’s plenty of fun to be had just chilling.”

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

Rizz Department

Thursday, July 31^st, 2025

COSTUME BARN circa 7:30pm—The Costume Barn is one of those places that feels crowded even when there’s only a couple people in it. Ahead of tonight’s Costume Dance Party, dozens of campers have descended in a ravenous swarm to scour the many racks of festive attire. Costume pieces are flung in every direction, piling up on every surface, including the walkways. A few of us counselors attempt to tidy amidst the fray, but the garments are discarded faster than we can find hangers, let alone hang pieces on the correct racks. A contingent of face painters attend to a growing line of partygoers. As we near the 8pm start time, the golden hour lighting gives way to a desaturated pale blue.

“I can’t find a costume in this huge mess!” laments Rye, 10, Rainbow Tipi, kneeling in the swamp of discarded garments. “I wanted to be an animal, maybe a big cat, but at this rate I won’t even be able to be a common domesticated housecat! When will the campers ever learn?”

“I’m an Oompa-Loompa gone wrong!” declares Porter, 9, Purple Tipi, wearing a blue wig with a top hat. “I have no idea how I came up with this idea, I just grabbed some stuff and this is what happened. It’s unleashing my silly side. It represents a trouble-maker in the real world. I say, ‘Just go for it!’”

“I’m either a grumpy old man or a billionaire,” says Mikio, 11, Maroon Tipi, sporting a blue king’s robe. “This robe just really spoke to me. I’m gonna do some old man dance moves like the boogie-woogie. Hey, stop slouching!” he snaps at a passing camper in his best old man voice.

“This is Mr. Wonkawot,” says Sophia, 10, Blue Tipi, holding up a cow hand puppet, and otherwise dressed in mismatch rainbow attire. “This outfit is just a bunch of stuff I like thrown together. I’m not trying to go to prom or be all bling-bling. I wanna be ugly. I wanna be silly. I wanna be goofy. I wanna be me!”

“I was finna wear my regular clothes, but then I though, ‘Hey, I should go to the costume barn!’” says Tristan, 11, Maroon Tipi, wearing a red jumpsuit and matching face paint. “Red isn’t my favorite color, but it’s definitely in the top-four. I just asked the face painters, ‘Can you do a clown?’ I’m ten-out-of-ten excited!”

“You can call me Dino Danny!” says Sandro, 11, Rainbow Tipi, wearing a green reptilian onesie and holding a red cheerleader’s megaphone. “I really like dinosaurs. The fact that they were on the planet so long before us until that asteroid wiped them out. I’m gonna do a dance called ‘Num-Nums’. It’s what a T-rex does before eating a biologist.”

“I’m a water-phoenix-leopard,” says Eilie, 9, Yellow Tipi, draped in silk butterfly wings and a blue dress and wearing a headband with fuzzy cat ears. “At first I saw the wings, and then I got caught up in this whole leopard thing. I’ll be doing lots of wing movements and cartwheels.”

A conch is blown, followed by blaring dance music which emanates from the Big Top. The campers flock to the source of the noise. I follow behind, toting my notebook and a camping chair.

“I did my own face paint,” says Umberto, 11, Maroon Tipi, grimacing a skull-like visage. “I did the white first, and then the nose, eyes, and cheekbones. My skeleton lips got a little smeared, but I fixed it, and it even looks cooler now. I’m not gonna dance, I’m just gonna juggle.”

“I made this crown at the Art Grove over the past two days,” says Talys, aka Queen of Camp Winnarainbow, 12, Indigo Tipi, wearing a gown and a cardboard crown. “The Queen endorses this party.”

“We’re not in costume; I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Kahli, aka José, 12, Orange Tipi, dressed in masculine-coded casual wear and a painted moustache. “We’re just some bros, bro-ing around. We’re cool like that. We’re loaded in the rizz department. Sigma Chad, all that cool stuff.”

Suddenly the music switches from the beloved pop swill to John Williams’ “Duel of the Fates”. A voice on the PA instructs campers to gather in the Stilt Field. Two adult stilters lumber into view, one dressed as Darth Vader and the other as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan wields a blue pool noodle while Darth Vader totes a bright red lifeguard buoy. The two spar with each other as the throng of campers cheer on the playful battle. With a deft parry of the noodle, Obi-Wan disarms Vader, bringing the spectacle to a close. The music resumes and the campers surge back into the Big Top to dance the night away.

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

Country or Folk or Something

Wednesday, July 30^th, 2025

TIPI CIRCLE circa 5:30pm—The sun has finally angled to a position that provides fairly comprehensive shade in the Tipi Circle. Standing on the central stone firepit I spray hose water over the earthen stage that is circumscribed by log benches. The initial impact of the water on the dirt raises shallow clouds of dust until the third or fourth passing. As if by design, the range of this hose with its sprayer attachment reaches just to the very edge of the benches.

All around downtown Camp campers are busy enjoying the last few minutes of afternoon free time. A pair of young girls are intrigued by the hose antics and plop down on one of the benches. “You can spray our feet!” they insist, waggling their flipflop-ed feet toward the action. They giggle as I pass the jet in their direction. Wetting the last few dry spots, I loosely coil the hose and head for the equipment shed.

Just outside the shed I find my trusty garden cart, which I’ve rigged with a tarp shell to protect two guitar amps from the dust and dew. The cart lurches over the uneven ground as I drag it. Returning to the shed for my guitar, I pass our drummer Paul Gaffaney carrying pieces of the drum kit into the circle. I plug in alongside bassist Eden Leeman and we begin sound-checking—a little reverb, a little delay. There’s no PA for vocals in this band, but that’s only because we have 150 lead singers.

The conch is blown, calling the campers to check in at their respective tipis. We know this means 15 minutes until showtime. Song leader Natalie Garms arrives on the scene with her acoustic guitar. “Simon and then The Chicks?” she asks, using shorthand lingo for the songs in our setlist. Band members Mayahuel Montoya and Riley Soloner appear with a tambourine and a melodica respectively. The whole band is almost here.

The conch is sounded once more, summoning the campers to Dinner Circle, a daily pre-dinner event where counselors share important announcements about Camp activities and etiquette. As the campers populate the benches, us band members leave the circle and wait for our big introduction. After a short attention-grabber and preamble, the circle leaders give us our cue:

“Please make very welcome The Stragglers!”

We enter to mild applause and proceed to lead the campers in a rendition of Paul Simon’s “I Know What I Know.” I hand lyrics to a group of camper “soloists” who champion the verses, while the rest of Camp chimes in on the chorus and the “whoops”. Adjunct song leader Annika Crowley joins us for the second song, “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks. She and Natalie lead the campers in memorizing the second of three verses.

It’s hard to learn multiple songs in just one week, but the campers seem to be picking things up quite quickly. We practice twice per day, once before breakfast and once before dinner, for a grand total of ten. Also on our setlists this session is a parody of “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X, created by song leader Shakon, “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, and a rendition of “Tequila” where the sole, titular lyric is replaced by the hot sauce “Cholula”. The latter usually results in a very dusty conga line.

Earlier today I spent some time collecting various opinions on the phenomenon of Camp’s song circle.

“You like circle up before dinner and breakfast, and we sing songs,” said Frankie, 10, Gold Tipi. “The Stragglers come out with guitars and tambourines and usually they do a ‘repeat after me’. It’s kinda country or folk or something, I don’t know. I enjoy it. I wish we did more songs. My favorite song is either Shakon’s song or ‘Lovely Day’.”

“So much fun!” said Asa, 10, Gold Tipi. “You can meet new people at the circles, depending on where you sit. The music is really joyful and creative. I don’t know my favorite Camp song; I love all of them. It’s a really nice way to bring people together.”

“It’s very sing-songy and very long,” said Elaya, 13, Turquoise Tipi. “It’s always happening when I’m hungry. I think it’s just to give the kitchen more time to set up food and stuff. The songs are nice and calming though. It feels like family because everyone is there. My favorite is ‘Lovely Day’.”

“It’s amazing!” said Trevor, 10, Ultraviolet Tipi. “It could be shorter, but I like it. I like the community in it, and it’s fun. The songs all have a good mood to them. The instrumentalism is great, almost like a real band! My favorite Camp song is ‘Lovely Day’ also.”

“It’s pretty good,” said Olivia, 14, Turquoise Tipi. “Even though there’s different friend groups at Camp, and different age groups, it brings us together and makes us more kind. It’s like a recentering after the excitement of classes. It brings me back to a more peaceful mood. My favorite song is ‘I Know What I Know’.”

“It’s interesting,” said Zubin, 10, Rainbow Tipi. “It brings everyone together and makes you happy. It’s a fun way to start the day. The songs usually wake you up if you’re feeling tired. My favorite song is ‘Wide Open Spaces’. It’s just got a vibe to it.”

“Song circle is lit! The Stragglers are my favorite band,” said Aerials Instructor Cristiana Moody. “It’s song circle; it’s self-explanatory. You get in a circle and sing songs. The songs are cute, and you get to learn new music. I remember camper Puddy running around with no shirt on, going crazy, especially for with a hammer and a bell in it. He would act out all the lyrics. That’s my favorite song circle memory. I love it when these young kids get to learn some older songs.”

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

One Thousand Stars Much

Tuesday, July 29^th, 2025

RAINBOW THEATER circa 8:30pm—“Some people say that the clown nose is actually the smallest mask,” says Clowning Instructor Riley Soloner, holding up a rubber clown nose with a small loop of elastic dangling. As he speaks, a dozen adult clown students stand on stage, eagerly awaiting instruction. “Some even say that it reveals more than it conceals!”

“And it’s a snot stopper!” interjects Camp Founder and long-time clown Wavy Gravy, causing the campers to giggle.

“Yes, thank you, Wavy,” says Riley. “Now, are you ready for your first clown exercise?” he says to the group of clowns. They silently show their excitement, each in their own way, some jumping, twitching, swooning, or begging on bended knee. Riley leads the group through a number of exercises, directing from the ground just in front of the stage with a wireless microphone.

“Now show the public how much you love skipping! Skip in a circle!” he demands, causing the throng to explode into a bacchanalian display of cavorting. The giggling grows to bouts of laughter as the clown students vie for attention, trying to one-up each other.

“For this final exercise, I want all of you clowns to gather on one side of the stage,” says Riley. “In a second, you’re going to hear the song from Chariots of Fire, which is a movie about running in slow-motion. When you hear this song, I want you all to slow-motion race across the stage.”

The giggling resumes as the synth trumpets come in, followed by heavily echoed percussion. By the time the piano part emerges, the entire group of clowns has morphed into a blob of trips, spills, and desperate reaching. The campers reward their efforts with laughter and cheering as they slowly ooze across the stage.

“This song is three minutes and thirty-three seconds long, by the way,” notes Riley, garnering an extra chuckle.

Tonight is Teacher Talent Night, which means that every skill taught at Camp will have a moment on stage to entice potential students. As the light of day lessens, the chirping of crickets becomes audible in the sonic background. Another act is called, and then another—songwriting, juggling, musical theater, tightrope, et cetera. The sheer number of skills is too great to fully capture in a mere blog post.

I run to my tent to grab a sweatshirt and return to find a beatnik poetry act underway, Juggling Instructor Eden Leeman playing a rhythmic bass line while Performance Coordinator José Garcia taps out a tasteful accompaniment on a cajón. A group of poets sit on milk crates in a semi-circle, offering poems one after the other as the music continues its steady groove.

“God is a tired woman,” recites Poetry Instructor Jaden Larson. “She has split ends, a chipped tooth, and every day she makes the sun rise with a sigh. Her coffee is cold, again—too many prayers in her inbox.”

The campers snap and whoop in response to the poems. As the show wears on, the campers are relocated to the Big Top for acrobatics, and finally to the Aerials Site for displays of trapeze and silks. At the conclusion of the show, I head to one of the many toothbrushing zones to gather some reviews of tonight’s performances.

“The best act was clowning,” says Amilyn, 7, Lime Tipi. “The slow-motion race was really funny. They didn’t talk the whole time but they still did strange things like one of them just froze in mid-air. I would give the night 8 out of 10 stars. I like Camp Winnarainbow one thousand stars much!”

“The show was very wonderful,” says Porter, 9, Gold Tipi. “The acro, the stilts, everything. The acro outfits were immaculate. They did handstands, cartwheels and backflips. I’m not gonna take acro class, I just like how it looks. The singing act was 10 out of 10. The show overalls was also 10 out of 10—no, 20 out of 10!”

“I wasn’t 1-million good, but it was like 1-thousand good,” says Pablo, 10, Blue Tipi. “There was a good variety of skills, something for everybody. When the giraffe unicycle came out I was like, ‘Wow, I wanna do that!’ 9.5 out of 10 stars.”

“The best was dance; their moves were really impressive,” says Nadyra, 9, Yellow Tipi. “One of the dance teachers did the worm. That was epic. Tomorrow I have to do stilts, unicycle and aerials, but if I have time I’ll go to dance class. 9.5 out of 10 stars.”

“I was really cool when the Stragglers sang ‘Our Day Will Come’,” says Amelia, 8, Yellow Tipi. “The worm was really cool, how she took the time to learn such a crazy move. I’m pretty crazy too, so that makes sense. My brother is on Teen Staff, and he’s been telling me about Camp since before I was 1-years-old. 9.6 out of 10—actually, nine-point-ten out of 10!”

“I really liked the two sticks with a line and the thing that can roll down on it,” says Zevi, 8, Purple Tipi, perhaps referring to the skill known as diabolo. “You can spin it and throw it in the air a bunch. I want to try it for sure but there’s also lots of other stuff I want to do. 9½ stars.”

“The aerialists was the best part,” says Nile, 12, Green Tipi. “It was fun, good vibes. Lots of flips and spins. Very impressive. The emcees were also funny. 8.5 out of 10.”

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025

Unicorn Air

Monday, July 28th, 2025

CROSSROADS circa 7:15pm—With the conclusion of pizza night, the children have been set loose upon a brief window of free time. A lingering cloud of dust serves as evidence for the recent stampede from the kitchen to downtown Camp, where from the sounds of revelry now emanate. Only a few of us remain on the roadway, those walking at a normal pace. The Art Grove, the Puppet Grove, the Nurses’ Dome, the Leaf Grove—all these familiar landmarks populate the corridor that connects the two hubs of our campus. The road is something of an outdoor hallway, one with living walls, and whose rooms are defined not by partitions, but by clumps of furniture, tarps and shades.

I encounter a group of children playing at the Tight Rope Site, which sits at the border of the Crossroads and the Tipi Circle.

“I already made a friend pretty quick,” says Adrian, 11, Rainbow Tipi. “I’m not good with names, but it’s that kid in the red shirt. I really like balancing stuff. If I’m walking somewhere, like to the library, I’ll stick a stack of books on my head and try to balance it. Tight rope is a natural extension of that, plus I like being barefoot.”

Suddenly a conch is blown, signaling the end of free time. The campers gather with their respective tipi groups and begin devising their tipi skits, which will each be performed on stage later tonight. I set out to ascertain some of the theatrical themes from a few tipis.

“So basically we are going to introduce ourselves in a very boring way,” explains Sarah, 11, Scarlet Tipi. “But then we’ll run to the tipi and get out our pillows and stuffies, and introduce them as magical creatures!”

“And we can all be witches and share one big broom!” adds Zoë, 10, Scarlet Tipi. “I’m not worried; I think we’ll do awesome.”

“Beans. Zombified beans,” says Ja’ Lin, 7, Purple. “I actually don’t really know what the skit is about. I think the beans come out and attack the farmers or something. I think it’s gonna be mid. I’m just a chill guy.”

“So basically they’re driving a plane, and then we do seat assignments,” says Tab, 10, Rainbow Tipi. “But the seats all have funny names like ‘sprinkles’ and ‘first-class glass’. Then at the end we all say. ‘Thank you for choosing Unicorn Air!’”

The conch is sounded again, signaling the beginning of our orientation tour. The campers gather in the theater. I slink over to the Juggling Cart to pass some time, and some clubs.

“Our tipi skit is about unimportant voyages,” says Juggling Instructor Eden Leeman. “It’s just another way of interpreting ‘U.V.’ Everybody as part of their intro will say some sort of unimportant voyage, such as, ‘Cutting my dogs toenails,’ or something like that.”

“Tonight is orientation tour, so we’re here to orientate!” continues Eden. “We’re here to tell people the possibilities of the Juggling Cart, the inclusivity of the Juggling Department, and how to use the equipment—all with a fun twist. It’s always exciting to have the last group of the summer. It seems like a really good group of kids.”

I return to the Crossroads where I encounter a lone camper who has lost her flock.

“I went to the Nurses’ Dome and now can’t find my group,” says Maddy, 9, Yellow Tipi. After a quick deliberation, we determine the Costume Barn is a good place to check. As we walk, I ask about her tipi skit. “I actually don’t know, I don’t think we talked about it. But if I was going to decide it, it would be something about gymnastics, because I’m really good at gymnastics.”

Finding the Costume Barn empty, we continue to the Rainbow Theater, where we find the Yellow Tipi campers sitting in the front row, enjoying an orientation. I loop back to the Tipi Circle to snap a couple photos of some of the notable tipi signs.

Stay hydrated,
—J. Payseno, Editor

LINKS:

Session D 2025 Photo Album
Blog Archive 2025